MUNSTER, Ind. — The Byzantine Catholic community of Northwest Indiana welcomed back one of its homegrown religious vocations earlier this month and learned how families can nurture vocations among their children.

Sister Kathleen Hutsko was born and raised at St. Mary Parish in Whiting, Indiana, and discerned a religious vocation, eventually settling on the Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate, a Byzantine Catholic order of active religious sisters. Thirty-eight years later, she serves in the leadership of the community as the provincial superior of the Immaculate Conception Province in the United States, headquartered in Sloatsburg, New York.

During a day of reflection June 2 at St. Nicholas Parish, organized by the parish Ladies’ Guild, Sister Hutsko spoke on the theme, “Family: The Foundation of Religious Life.”

Sister Hutsko said her family’s commitment to the parish fostered her vocation as a young person. The Hutsko Family also boasts two priestly vocations, Fathers Basil and Joseph Hutsko, who serve the Eparchy of Parma and the Eparchy of Phoenix respectively.

“Church, family time, and traditions were non-negotiables” for her family growing up, she said. The family insisted on Divine Liturgy attendance every Sunday and on holy days, as well as attendance at all Lenten services. Sisters and priests were regularly over at their house. Regular participation at church services, as well as vocational examples in the home, impressed upon the children the importance of church and of commitment to Christ.

Regular confession was also part of Sister Hutsko’s upbringing. The family would go to church together monthly to receive the sacrament of confession, but her father would give a particular twist to the occasion. Before going to church for the sacrament, they first had to go to each member of the family and ask forgiveness from each other.

Devotion to the Mother of God was another pillar of faith for the family. Sister Hutsko underlined the importance of the Mother of God in three ways. First, Mary gives an experience of God “with skin on it,” she said. God chose to take on his human nature from Mary. This reality allows people to experience a Savior who is close to them and provides them with a deeper sense of comfort than they could ever imagine.

Second, Christians learn Christ through Mary, said Sister Hutsko. In having a relationship with the Mother of God, one has a relationship with someone who knows Christ personally. In aspiring to a personal relationship with Jesus, one can look to her as an example and a guide.

“Mary wants us to know her son, not just recite prayers to him,” Sister Hutsko said.

Third, she emphasized that devotion to Mary assists with the divine plan of conquering evil and division.

“There is so much division in our world — division within families as members haven’t spoken to each other for years because of some misunderstanding, division in our parishes with cliques and jealousy, division in communities and even within ourselves,” she said.

She concluded by drawing from Pope Francis’ most recent Apostolic Exhortation “Gaudete et exsultate” (“Rejoice and Be Glad”) to speak about the universal call to holiness that encompasses the Christian life, not just for priests and religious, but also for the laity.

The pursuit of holiness, encouraged by the practice of the faith in families, is a sure way to nurture vocations in faith communities, she said. She reminded her listeners of their responsibility to guide “young people in their faith and values” in the hope of encouraging not just religious vocations, but strong Catholic families.

The following day, Sister Hutsko visited her home parish and addressed parishioners briefly.

The Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate are currently raising funds for a much-needed expansion to their nursing home. Their annual Dormition pilgrimage in Sloatsburg will be held Aug. 11-12. Archbishop William C. Skurla of Pittsburgh will celebrate a Divine Liturgy over the weekend and Bishop Kurt Burnette of Passaic will celebrate a Moleben. Info:
http://ssmi-us.org.

Caption:
Sister Kathleen Hutsko speaks about the family and vocations at a daylong event, organized by the Ladies’ Guild of St. Nicholas Parish in Munster, Indiana, June2. (Photo: Donna Tang)